All children and youth are invited to bring their backpacks to 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship on Sunday, August 26. We will be having a "Blessing of the Backpacks" to bless all learners and teachers in our church and in our community.

CELEBRATION SUNDAY: SEPTEMBER 9 @ 10:45 a.m.

followed by a COVERED DISH LUNCH.

Bibles will be presented to our two-year olds, second graders and sixth graders.

There will be NO Sunday School for children and youth on this day.

Following worship, there will be a church-wide covered dish meal! Please bring two (2) of the following to share, enough for your family plus two:

Meat Dish | Side | Dessert

Everyone is invited to this time of celebration and fellowship!

EPWORTH RINGERS ANNOUNCEMENT UPDATE

We have successfully found a ringer to fill the opening that we had for the 2018/2019 season; however, we would like to have a list of substitutes. Inevitably, we end up relying on our substitutes quite a bit, and it would be nice to have a list of three or four people upon whom we could contact. If you would be interested in being a substitute for Epworth Ringers (Front Street’s adult handbell ensemble), please contact Matt Brittain. Many thanks!

ASSISTANT ORGANIST OF THE DAY

If you have ever wondered what it is like to sit on the organ bench on Sunday mornings, then now is your chance to find out. Dr. Matt is looking for assistants, ages seven and up (including adults), to help him at the organ on Sunday mornings. Tasks will include turning the organ on and off, preparing the next hymn on the music rack, staying a step ahead of the worshipping congregation, pushing pistons, and turning pages if confident enough. The assistant will meet with Dr. Matt at the console approximately ten minutes before the beginning of the service to go over the tasks. Please click here to sign up.

FRESH AIR STUDY

This summer some Sunday School classes, as well as small groups meeting at other times of the week, will be learning about the Holy Spirit using the study Fresh Air: The Holy Spirit for an Inspired Life, by Jack Levison. The study takes groups through the great narrative of Scripture, stopping along the way to see how the presence of the Holy Spirit saturates the Bible from cover to cover, and in many places we've never noticed before, including the ordinary rhythms of our daily lives. If you're interested in joining a group please contact Pastor Patrick ASAP (patrick@frontstreetumc.org)!

PRAY WITH US!

Did you know our prayer team meets twice a month to pray for the people and ministries of Front Street UMC, as well as our nation and the world? They would love to have you join them! Gatherings are the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 9:30-10:00 a.m. in the Prayer Room (located in the Heritage Center). For more information please contact Lisa Smith at 336-266-2425.

MEN'S BREAKFAST BIBLE STUDY

Men of Front Street UMC, want to get a great start to your day at least once a week? Come to the Men’s Breakfast Bible Study on Tuesday mornings beginning September 11, from 7:00 a.m. Yes, some of our group are retired, but our mindset is not retired and we would celebrate the presence of any and all men. Breakfast is available from 7:00 a.m. with a choice of diet (cereal or fruit) or ham biscuits, as well as coffee and juice. The Bible Study portion begins at 7:30 a.m. and concludes by 8:30 a.m. Click here for more information.

SUMMER ROAD TRIP

Are we there yet??? The family road trip can be great fun, seeing the sights and spending time together. It can also breed complaining about cramped quarters and boredom. When the Israelites took a road trip to the land God promised them, they complained the whole way. They forgot that God has good things in store for us. From June 3 thru August 26, children K-5th grade are invited to join Ms. Marcy in the chapel on Sunday mornings for an exciting road trip! Gathering and refreshments will be served at 9:45 a.m. Worship (including music and drama) will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by outdoor activities. Children who play an instrument, enjoy reading aloud or acting are invited to participate in the leading of Summer Sunday School. Contact Marcy McAdams (marcy@frontstreetumc.org) for more information or to volunteer.

PROJECT AGAPE

It is time once again to begin filling Christmas boxes for refuge children in Armenia. For several years, the NC Conference has adopted Project AGAPE Christmas boxes as a conference-wide mission project. AGAPE Christmas boxes are one way Front Street UMC can share Christ’s love with the children of Armenia.

Plastic shoe boxes (and instructions) are available in the Welcome Center for you to take and fill and return to the church by September 23.

LOOKING FOR AN UNIQUE GIFT FOR A LOVED ONE?

Shopping for a meaningful gift for a soon-to-be graduate? Struggling to think of what to give Dad for Father’s Day? Consider honoring your loved one with a gift that is personalized, long-lasting and benefits the mission outreach of Front Street UMC. Buy a brick!

Bricks are available for purchase at $100 each and can be personalized with up to three lines of text (14 characters per line). They will be installed on the church walkway, so you and your loved one will be reminded of this special moment frequently. (Please be aware purchased bricks will be placed in quantities of 20, so installation times will vary.)

Click here to order online or contact the church office for a paper order form.

SANCTUARY FLOWERS

The following dates are available to place flowers in the Sanctuary in honor or memory of a loved one:

December 23 and 30

For more information, please contact Linda Paul at 336-543-5081 (cell) or kpaul5@triad.rr.com (email).

AUGUSTFOOD DRIVE

One of our C4C ministries with Eastlawn Elementary is the Backpack Ministry. This ministry supplies food for children at Eastlawn Elementary School who would otherwise go hungry over the weekend. In the month of August we are asking for the following donations, which will be used to support our Backpack Ministry:

Pasta

Pasta sauce (No glass jars please)

Rice

Canned beans

Canned meat

Cans of corn or mixed vegetables

Cans of fruit

Snack packs (Jell-O or fruit cups)

Please note that only the food items listed above can be utilized for this ministry. All other items will be donated to a local food pantry. Please deposit your donations in the Reading Area. This collection will continue through August 31.

AZALEA MOBILE HOME PARK MISSION

Thank you to everyone who has given time, energy, and love to breathe new life into the partnership with our neighbors in Azalea Mobile Home Park. This is a mission that thrives through folks' willingness to cross boundaries of culture and language, and learn what it means to be good neighbors in our diverse community. Many of our new participants have joined through mission experiences they have had in Haiti and Puerto Rico, which has had a deep impact on our local ministry here! Just as there's good works of mercy and justice to do abroad, so too is there good work God is inviting us to do right here in Burlington. The dates for upcoming Azalea gatherings are: August 18 and September 15. If you would like to join, contact Pastor Patrick (patrick@frontstreetumc.org) or Betty Huneycutt (missbetty11@gmail.com).